Switch for electric motors



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. H. CONDICT. SWITCH PCR. ELECTRIC MCCRS. No. 393,323. Patented Nov. 20, 1888.

FIC.

A j (77 j #174 75:17' 7 4 9" NA PETERSv PhnloLtbogrnpMr. Wanhngion. D. C.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. H. GONDIGT. SWITCH FOR. ELECTRIC Mofros.

(No Model.)

N0. 393,323. Patented NOV. 20, 1838.

FIG

N. PEERs, Pnommngnpher, wmingwn. 11C.

UNITED. STATES PATENT GEORGE HERBERT CONDICT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,323, dated November 20, 1888.

Application filed April QG, 1518. Serial No. 271,882. (Xo model.)

To LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HERBERT CON- DIOT, of the city and countj,7 of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Switches for Electric Motors,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to switches for electric motors; and it consists of certain improvements, fully set forth in the following io specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

My invention is especially adapted to elec tric motors used to propel vehicles-such as cars, boats, andaerial ships-but may be emr5 ploycd in connection with motors in station-- ary plant where machinery is to be driven.

:This invention is particularly useful where the supply of electricity is great-such, forinstancc, as when storage-batteries or electrical 2o accumulators are used on cars-and in which the motors are regulated by varying their internal resistance, which may be done by connecting up their coils in different ways. In practice I have found that switches for regulating the power and speed of electric motors under these conditions were easily burned out, not only causing great annoyance in the operation of the cars or machine, but rendering the operator liable to injury. The trouble is o mainly due to the fact that at the time of changing the motor-connections the resistance ofthe motors is more or less cut out, and in making the new connections there is great danger from sparking, which often short-cir cuits the connections with danger ofcompletely destroying the switch and burning outthe motors. To overcome these objections I have constructed my switch so that at the time of changing the connections I insert resistances 4o more or less great according as to the resistance of the motor-connections-that is to say, if the motor resist-ance is great the auxiliary resistances would be small, and vice versa. I also so arrange the switch that the rcsistances are all out out of circuit as soon as the ner7 motor-connection is made. Their function is to reduce the current iiowing, so that at the time of making the change in the motor-connections thc current is small compared with what it would be if these resistances were not inserted, and, furthermore, these resistances are gradually cut in and out, so as not to suddenly change the resistance to the current heyond a given amount.

Another portion of my invention is the rcversing-switch, which is arranged in the same frame or case with the controlling-switch and combined with a locking device which is opcrated by the controlling-switch, so that when current is flowing through the motors the re- 6o versing-switch cannot be moved, butwhen the controlling-switch is turned so that all or suhstantially all ofthe current is cut out from the motors, then the reversing-switch may be moved to reverse the motors.

I do not limit myself to any particular details of construction, as they are of secondary importance.

In the drawings,Eigure lis a cross sectional plan view of my improved switch on line .r .r of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line z .c of Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa sectional elevation on line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. is a side elevation of my improved switch. Fig. 5 is a plan view of same with the hand-wheel removed. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the indicating-roller and plate for the switch. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing` the connections of thc reversing-switch. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the contact-blocks of the controlling-switch 8o and their connections with the source of power, motors, and resistances, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of an electric car, showing my invention applied thereto.

. A is the switch, which consists of a case hav` 35 ing the rotary barrel or cylinder R, having the contact-blocks C secured to its periphery. These contact-blocks are preferably arranged as shown in Eig. S, to which reference will be made hereinafter, and the blocks are insulated from each other by any good insulator*A such as mica or slate or other substance not liable to injury from. heat. The top of the case is provided with a plate, E", having a series of depressions, Et, arranged at distances apart corresponding to the positions of the switch for connecting the motor-coils in different ways. The upper part ofthe switch is provided with a hand wheel, E, which may have a handle', e, and it is also provided with roo a spring-arm, E', which carries at its free end a roller, E2, which runs upon the plate Es and snaps down into the depressions E* to indicate to the operator without looking where the switch "s, thus giving tothe operator the entire use of his eye-sight in looking ahead. This switch, therefore, may be operated with intelligence by the Vfeeling in the hand only. The current to or from the different coils, a battery, or source of power and resistances pass through brushes D,which rest in contact with the various sections C of the switch.

It will thus be seen from the above description that the switch regulation may be considered as formed of two separate switches made to move in unison, one of which controls the speed and power of the motors and the other the resistanccs. Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that all that part above the blocks 16, 17, 25, and 27 is the regulator-switch for the motor,while all that part below the blocks 15 and 24 is the switch for thc resistances,and may be termed a resistance-switch,77 and,linally,the cylinder B is the connection between the two said switches which insures their synchronous or simultaneous movement to produce the results desired.

Located to one side of the controlling-switch B is the reversing-switch G, which is housed in a compartment, M. This reversing-switch is preferably a reciprocating switch working on a center, g, and has at its top a plate, K, having the holes L, into which a bolt, J, is shot to lock said reversing-switch in its extreme positions, and, if desired, in its middle position also. This bolt J is held out of the plate K by a spring, j, pressing against the under side of the head J, which head works against the cam-surface L on the rotary con# trolling-switch, being allowed to withdrawY from the reversing-switch when the controlling-switch is turned to the position shown in Fig. 1, so as to present the recess part Z of the cam-surface, and in which position the current is cut out of the motors. This locking of the reversing-switch Ais most important, as it prevents any possibility of the switch being moved when the full current is on, and thereby burning outthe motors and the switchitself. This locking device is also advantageous, because unless the reversing-switch is fully thrown the controlling-switch cannot put on the current, and this is an additional guard against injury to the mechanism. In working with powerful currents the utmost precaution must be taken in making these switches so that they cannot be burned out, as the whole safety of the motors depends upon their proper Working.

The reversing-switch G is operated by a handle, I, extending through from the lateral wall of the switch-case, and is provided with a crank-pin, i, which works in a slot, g', in the switch-lever.

The lever G of the reversing switch is preferably formed of two bars, m m, of insulating material-such as vulcanized fiber-which are separated by the metallic hub and contactblocks I-I N O I) and plate K, as this forms a light and yet strong lever construction and thoroughly insulates the contact-blocks.

By throwing the lever I to one side or the other the current in the armatures of the motors will be reversed; but no current will be actually passing when this switch is thrown. I do not limit myself to any particular details of construction of this switch, as it may be made for one or more motors and otherwise be made movable. The construction of both switches is shown as adapted for two series electric motors coupled in series with the batteries or other source of electric power.

In Fig. 9 I show the switch A on the front platform, S, of the car Q, with the batteries R on the car above the wheels and with the circuits r leading from the batteries and motors to the switch. It is evident that this is one kind of vehicle to which my invention may be applied,and in employing the word vehicle77 I include boats and aerial ships.

Referring now to the connections and details of the controlling-switch device, it will be necessary to examine Fig. 8, in which we have the various contact-sections of the switch and their connections with the motors and batteries or source of electric power clearly set out. The letters T to T5 represent the different positions of the switch corresponding to different connections of the motors. The contactblocks 9, corresponding to the T position, support the brushes D (forming the terminals of the various electric circuits) and insulate them one from the other when the motors are cut out of circuit. If the switch is turned to position T2, the current from the battery R will pass over circuit T to contact-block 10, then through one of the ield-coils of one motor, F, by circuit f to contact-block 11, and then through the other field-coil of the same motor to contact-block 12, then through the reversing-switch G and armature of the same motor to contact-block 13, then by circuitf through one of the field-coils of the other motor to contact-block let, then through the other field-coil of the second motor to contact-block l5, then by reversing-switch through t-he armature to contact-block 16, and finally by line T to battery It. In changing from position T to T2 one of the resistauces Y willirst be put into circuit, and then as the movement is continued it will be cut out, thus inserting a resistance at the instant of connecting up the motor-coils for work. This cnttingin and out of the resistance-coils takes place with every new movement of the switch, and is due to the notched portions tof the contact-blocks 16, 17, 25, and 27, and varies the resistance according to the position of the switch and corresponds inversely to the motor resistance. For the T2 position of the switch the motors will have all of their coils coupled in series, and hence the resistance is greatest, and therefore less resistance Y should be inserted than when the motor resistance is less.

roo

IIO

'By turning the switch to the position T3 we will have the field-coils of each motor coupled in parallel and in series with its armature, and the two motors as entireties will be coupled in series, and as in'this case the resistance of the motor-eircuit is less than in the preceding case there are two notches, t, at a point of change, thus throwing in twice the resistance Y, and then gradually cutting it out to throw the full current on the motors. Turning the switch to TL position, we have the current from the battery entering at contact-block 1S, then part of said current passing to one tield-coil of one motor to contact-block 19, and then to the other tield-coil oi' the same motor to contactblock 20, then through the armature to contact-block 21, and from that to contact-block 25, and by circuit l tothe battery. A part of the current from contact-block 1S passes to contact-block 22, then through one ofthe heldcoils of the second motor to contact-block 23, then through the other field-coil of the second motor to contact-block 24, and then through the armature of thismotor to contact-block and to battery. From this it will be seen that each motor has its various coils in series and the two motors are coupled in parallel. In making this change it is sclf-cvident that the motor resistance is considerably less than in the previous case, and to avoid throwing too strong a current onto the motors at time of change we have three or even four notches, t, between the contact-blocks 17 and 25, thus throwing in three or four resistances Y (the latter number being preferred in practice) at time of coupling up the motors, and then gradually cutting them all out to throw the full current onto the motors. Turning now to the position T", we have the'lield-coils ofeach motor connected in parallel and in series with their armature and thetwo motors coupled in parallel, as before, in which case the motor resistance is still less than the preceding connection. By moving the switch X to connect with one ortheotherend ofthe batteryRwe can short-circuitand thus cut out of action either one of the motors, so that the movementof the controlling-switch will not supply current to the motor cut out of action.

It is evident that while only four ways of coupling up the coils of the motors are shown a large variety of connections might be made embodying the same general princi ples. Itis also evident that while the motors are coupled in a given manner a slight movement of the switch will have the eii'ect of cutting in or out one or more of the rcsistances Y, and thereby provide an additional means of regulation where slight variations in the speed or power of the motors is required. The reversing-switch connections will now be understood by acomparison of Figs. 2, 7, and 8. The eu rrent passes in at the contact D to contact H, and, alter passing through the armature, returns to contactRandthence to contactD2,from which it ultimately passes to contact D3, thence to contact O,and,after passing through the armature of the other motor, returns to contact N, and thence to Dt. The connections of these two armatures and switch are shown in Fig. 7. The contacts l to 8, inclusive, are connected with the niotor-brushes, as indicated in Fig. S, and it will be observed that in this latter tigure a simple form of reversing-switch is shown for each motor to avoid complication of this diagram, and the switch shown in Fig. 2 is simply a carrying out of the switches G G (shown in Fig. 8) coupled together,so that one handle I may simultaneously control both switches. It is evident that this invention is equally applicable where there is to be one motor, for provision is here made for cutting one ofthe two motors shown out ol' circuit,and it is also evident that the source of electric power may be a dynamo-electric machine or other equivalent generator in place of the battery R.

NVhilc I prefer the construction shownl do not limit myself' to the details thereof, as they may be moditied in various ways without departing from my invention.

Having now described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf l. The combination of two electric motors, a source ofelectric supply,a controllingswitch for coupling up the coils ot' the motors in different orders to vary the resistance offered by said motors, a reversing-switch to reverse the current in the motors, and a locl; controlled by the movement of the controlling-switch to lock said reversingswitch from movement at all times except when the controllingswitch is moved to cut the normal current out of the motors.

2. The combination of two electric motors, asource of electric supply, a eontrollingswitch for coupling up the coils of the motors in different orders to vary the resistance offered by said motors, a reversing-switch foreach motor to reverse the current in thel motors, a rigid connection between the switchcs,whereby they are both moved simultaneously, and a lock controlled by thc movement of the controlling` switch to lock said reversingvswitches from movement at all times except when the controlling switchis movedto cut thenormal cur rent out ofthe motors.

3. rlhe combination of an electric car, an electric motor on said car to propel it, a battery carried by the car, a controlling-switch and circuits for coupling up the coils of the motor in different ways c vary its internal resistance, a reversi:1g-switch l'or reversing the motor, and a lock for said reversiiig-switch controlled by the control]ing-switch to lock said rcversingswitch rigidly against movement during the changing of the motorecoir ncctions bythe controlling-switch.

Al. The combination ot' an electric car, an electric motor on said car to propel it, a battery carried by the car, a controlling-switch and circuits for coupling up the coils of the motor in different ways to vary its internal lOO sistance, a ccntrally-pivoted vibrating reversing-switch for reversing the motor,having contacts at each end and on opposite sides of its fulcrum, and a lock for said reversing-switch controlled by the controlling-switch to lock said reversing switch rigidly against movement during the changing of the motor-connections by the controlling-switch.

5. The combination of a vehicle, a battery upon said vehicle, a motor to propel said vehicle, a circuit connecting the motor and battcry,a rotary cylindrical controlling-switch located on the front platform andin circuit with the motor and battery, a pivoted vibrating reversing-switch, also on the front platform and close to the controlling-switch, and a lock independent of either switch, but actuated by the movement of the controlling-switch,to lock the reversing-switch when the normal current is ilowing through the motor.

6. The combination of a vehicle, a battery upon said vehicle, two electric motors to propel said vehicle, a current-controlling switch to vary the current passing through motors by varying the resistance of the motors and connecting circuits with a current reversing switch, and a lock controlled by the controlling switch to lock said reversing-switch when the normal current is iiowing,and vice versa.

7. The combination of a rotary barrel current-controlling switch to vary the current passing through a motor, with a reciprocating current-reversing switch,and a lock controlled by the controlling-switch to lock said reversing-switch when the normal current is flowing, and vice versa, an inclosing-case for said switches, and independent operating-handles extending to the outside of the case. 1

8. The combination of two motors, a fieldcircuit, a controlling-switch to couple up the coils of the field-magnets ofthe two motors in series or in multiple to vary the power ofthe field ofthe motors, a double reversing-switch for the armatures of the motors, and independent handles for each of said switches.

9. A rotary switch for electric motors having a stationary plate provided with depressions corresponding to the different positions of the switch for different connections of the motor or its circuits, in combination with a spring-arm connected to and rotating with the switch-cylinder, and a roller projecting from said spring-arm and adapted to run into said depressions to indicate the position of the switch. IZ' n 10. The combination of a movable controlling-switch for varying the power of the motors having a cani-surface, a reversing-switch vhaving holes or openings, and a bolt actuated tors having a cam-surface, a reversing-switch having holes or openings, a bolt actuated by the cam-surface ot' the controlling-switch and adapted to be projected through the holes or openings in the reversing-switch to lock it against movement when said controllingswitch is moved, and a spring to withdraw the bolt when the controlling-switch is moved back to its original position, or when the normal working-current is cut off.

12. The double reversing-switch consisting of the contact-blocks 1 to 8, inclusi ve, arranged in pairs, as shown, and electrically connected to the motor-coils, in combination with a pivoted reversing-lever having contacts H N O P for making connection with blocks 1 to 8, and in which the current is supplied to two of said contacts H N O P and passes through the remaining two of said contacts H N O P and motor-coils in succession.

13. The reversing-switch consisting of the combination of the contact-blocks 1 to 8, connected to the motor brushes or terminals, the pivoted lever G, formed of the insulating-bars m, separated by the contact-blocks HN O P and having the opening g', and handle I, having crank z, working in the opening g.

14. The combination of a source of electric supply, one or more electric motors, a motorcircuit, a controlling-switch for coupling the coils ofthe motor or motors in different orders with the source of electric supply,whereby the motor resistance is varied,and for inserting or removing an auxiliary resistance, and an auX- iliary resistance substantially inversely proportional to the motor resistance inserted by the switch at time of changing the motor-connections.

15. The combination of two electric motors, a source of elect-ric supply, connecting-circuits, a switch for coupling up the motors in series or multiple connection, and resistances substantiallyinversely proportional to the motor resistance inserted in circuit by the switch at the time of changing the motor-connections.

16. The combination of a vehicle, two electric motors mechanically connected by powertransmitting devices with the respective axles, asource oi'electric supply, connecting-circuits, a switch for coupling up the motors in series or multiple connection located on the front platform, and resistances substantially inversely proportional to the motor resistance inserted in circuit by the switch at the time of changing the motor-connections.

17. The combination of a battery composed of a number of cells coupled in series, two or more electric motors, connecting-circuits, a switch to couple up the coils of the motors in different orders to vary the motor resistance, and resistances substantially inversely proportional to the4 motor resistance controlled by the switch and inserted into the circuit at the time the switch is changing the motor-connections to increase or decrease the power of the motor.

18. The combination of a battery composed IZO of a number of cells coupled in series, two or ing-switch for said motor or motors, an indemore electric motors, connecting-circuits, a switch to couple up the coils of the motors in dierent orders to vary the motor resistance, and resistances substantially inversely proportional to the motor resistance controlled by the switch and inserted into the circuit at the time the switch is changing the motor-connections to increase or decrease the power of the motor, and after the properl connections are formed cut out of circuit.

i9. The combination of a source of electric supply, one or more electric motors, a motorcireuit, a eontrollingswitch for coupling the coils of the motor or motors in different orders with the source of electric supply, whereby the motor resistance is varied, a series of resistances inserted into the motor-circuit by the switch at the time of changing the motorconnections, and in which the resistance inserted is greater with a decrease in the motor resistances, or vice versa.

20. The combination of a source of electric energy, the coils of one or more electric motors, a switch for connecting said coils in different ways to vary the motor resistance, one or more resistances, and a switch to put said resistances into or out of the motor-circuit without changing the motor-connections to vary the power of the current iiowi ng through the motors.

21. The combination of a source of electric energy, the coils ot' one or more electric motors, a switch for connecting said coils in different ways to vary the motor resistance, and one or more resistanees, said switch being adapted to put said resistances in succession into or out ofthe motor-circuit without changing` the motor-connections to vary the power of the current dowing through the motors.

22. The combination of a source of electric supply, a switch for coupling up the coils of a motor or motors in a predetermined order, a series of resistanees, a contact-block ou said switch in circuit with the motor and resistauces and having contact-edges for cutting in or out the resistances one at a time, contactbrushes from said resistances, and connected to the source of electric supply and resting on the contact-block, and adapted to be brought into or out of contact with it in succession, whereby the resistances may be cut into or ont of the motorcircuit without varying the connection of the motor-coils.

23. The combination of a source of electric suppl-y, one or more electric motors, a controlling-switch to connect the coils of said motor or motors ina predetermined order to Vary the motor resistance, an independent reversing-switch for said motor or motors, and an independent switch to cut one oi' the motors out of operative circuit.

24. The combination of a source of electric supply, one or more electric motors, a controlling-switch to connect the coils of said motor or motors in a predetermined order to vary the motor resistance, an independent reverspendent switch to cut one of the motors out of operative circuit, and a lock l'or the reversing-switch controlled by the controlling-switch to lock it against movement when the current is flowing through the motors.

25. The controlling-switch, substantially as herein set out, having the moving surface provided with eoutaet-blocks 10 to l5, as shown, in combination with contact-brushes D, resting upon said contact-blocks, two electric m0- tors, each having two sets of coils on its fieldmagnets, and connecting-circuits between the coils and armatures of the motors and contaetbrushes, substantially as set out.

26. The controlling-switch, substantially as herein set out, having the moving surface provided with'contact-bloelrs l0 to l5 and 18 S o to 27, as shown, and in which block 2l is connected to block 25, and bloei; 26 to blocl;

27, and block 1S to block 22, in combination with contact-brushes D, resting upon said contact-blocks. 9o

27. The combination of an electric motor, a source of electric power, a motor-circuit, a motor-switch to vary the power of the motor, two or more resistanccs, a resistance-switch to cut said resistances gradually into or out of o the motor-circuit, and a connection between the said switches,whereby a movement of the motor-switch will first cut in one or more of the resistances, and after changing the power ofthe motor automatically eut the resistanees out of circuit again.

2S. The combination of a motor having separate coils, a motor-circuit, a motor-switch for coupling up said coils so as to vary the iuternal resistance of the motor,a resistance,and a resistanceswiteh to cut in and out the said resistance upon shifting the motor switch to vary the coupling of the motor-coils.

29. The combination of a motor having separate coils, a motor-circuit, a motor-switch I for coupling up said coils so as to vary the internal resistance of the motor, a resistance, aresistanee-switch to cut in and out the said resistance upon shifting the motor-switch to Vary the coupling of the motor-coils, and r means controlled by the motor-switch for operating the resistaneeswitch.

30. The combination of two motors,a source of electric power, a motor-circuit, a switch for coupling the coils of the motors in series or multiple to vary their internal resistanee,and a switch to cut either of said motors out of circuit without impairiug the operation of the IOS "'ontaetbloeks 9,arranged one above the other taets, a motor having its coils connected to and insulated from each other, a block, 14, said Contact brushes, a source of electric equal in length to two of said contact-blocks power, and circuits connecting the motor and 9, and two L -shaped blocks, 13 and 15, arswitch with the source of power. 15

5 ranged one above and one below said block In testimony of which invention I hereunto 14, the said blocks 13 and 15 being each equal set my hand. in length to two of said blocks 9 when ar- T ranged in line with block 14, and each equal G' HERBERT (JOB DIGT' to three of said blocks 9 beyond said block Vitnesses:

1o 14 and where they approach each other, in 'ERNEs'r HOWARD HUNTER,

combination with eontactbrnshes for said con- E. M. BRECKINREED. 

